Vajpayee salutes the valiantNew Delhi, December 14
The security men posted at Parliament House, including those from the Central Reserve Police Force, and the Watch and Ward today got their due of praise with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and the entire political leadership saluting them for the valiant role they played.

Business as usual, but with tighter
securityNew Delhi, December 14Although the tension was palpable and security tightened to unprecedented levels, there was some
semblance of normalcy at Parliament today with both Houses meeting to adopt resolutions
condemning yesterday’s attack.

Parliament sanitisedNew Delhi, December 14A joint team of Delhi Police Officials, National Security Guards and forensic and explosive experts searched the sprawling premises throughout the night in order to ensure that the Parliament complex was free of any explosive material following yesterday’s shootout.

Notice to Medical Supdt of hospitalNew Delhi, December 14Taking cognizance of news reports about a non-functional CT scanner in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital here, the Union Health Ministry today directed its secretary to issue a show-cause notice to the Medical Superintendent, asking why action should not be taken against him for such a lapse.

Oppn being kept in dark on attack: CPMNew Delhi, December 14The CPM today charged the government with keeping the Opposition in the dark about the details of the terrorist attack on Parliament House yesterday.

Set free on bail by SC, Laloo in jail
againNew Delhi, December 14The Supreme Court today granted interim bail for six months on severe conditions to former Bihar Chief Ministers Laloo Prasad Yadav and Dr Jagannath Mishra in one of the fodder scam related cases, pending before a Ranchi special
court.

VIDEOS

Condemning
the suicide attacks on Parliament, the All-India
Anti-Terrorist front and BJP activists took to the streets in
the Capital today.(28k,
56k)

New Delhi, December 14
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today expressed the country’s firm resolve to fight the menace of terrorism in all its manifestations.

Describing the terrorist attack on Parliament as an “arrogant challenge” to democracy worldwide, Mr Vajpayee said: “India has been resolutely countering every new manifestation of terrorism and it shall repulse this one with equal firm”.

Speaking at a function here to celebrate the platinum jubilee of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Mr Vajpayee said that the terrorist attack on Parliament was unprecedented not only in the history of India but also in the annals of democracy the world over.

He said the government would continue to adhere to its policy to uphold the autonomy of the Union Public Service Commission. He said the UPSC should show dynamism and sensitivity towards the changing needs of the nation in recruiting officers for governance.

He asked the commission to take “an honest and self-critical look at the shortcomings in the system, especially in areas of policy formulation, policy analysis and programme implementation.’’

In his opening remarks, UPSC Chairman, Gen (Retd) Surinder Nath said autonomous organisations like Prasar Bharti and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited should also be brought within the purview of the commission.

New Delhi, December 14
The security men posted at Parliament House, including those from the
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Watch and Ward today got
their due of praise with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and the
entire political leadership saluting them for the valiant role they
played in preventing terrorists from causing a major tragedy inside
Parliament House yesterday.

Prime Minister Vajpayee took the lead in encouraging the security personnel by standing for a photograph with two CRPF men, including Santosh Kumar, who gunned down three of the five terrorists single-handedly, and five members of the Watch and Ward staff.

Almost every Member of Parliament (MP) had more than a word of praise for the security action. Unarmed Watch and Ward staff of Parliament were commended for quickly sealing off the building by sounding the security bell and closing all 12 entrances, thus ensuring the safety of the MPs.

The
23rd battalion of the CRPF won the maximum accolades, especially
Santosh Kumar. A woman constable, Kamlesh Kumari, was the first to die
at the hands of terrorists.

Several MPs and mediapersons made a
beeline to the barracks of the CRPF near the parking lot, to
congratulate the paramilitary personnel of the 23rd Battalion, which
is commanded by R S Mehra.

The black-suited Watch and Ward force of
Parliament, who are trained to silently and politely see that order
prevails both inside and outside the two houses, were also the stars
of the day. It was one of them —Jagdish Prasad Yadav — who was the
first one to stop the terrorists from entering the main building.

Yadav
was gunned down in a hail of bullets even as he held on to one of the
terrorists despite being unarmed.

New Delhi, December 14
As the nation salutes the seven security personnel who sacrificed there lives to protect the symbol of world’s largest democracy, CRPF’s 88 Battalion will for ever miss the good and daring Kamlesh Kumari.

The CRPF fraternity held a wreath laying ceremony for the departed soul with full police honours at its IIIrd DAP Lines at Vikaspuri in West Delhi.

The tall medium-built woman constable was the first to be gunned down by the suicide squad which forced its way into the Parliament complex, when she challenged them.

Constable Kamlesh Kumari, who joined the force in 1994, was first posted with the elite 104 Rapid Action Force (RAF) in Allahabad, a feat in itself.
Soon after, she was posted at the 88 Mahila Battalion here on July 12, 2001. She became part of the Bravo Company, which is deployed in Parliament when in session. As her family members grieve her death, Kamlesh Kumari will go in the annals of post-independence history as a martyr.

New Delhi, December 14
Although the tension was palpable and security tightened to unprecedented levels, there was some
semblance of normalcy at Parliament today with both Houses meeting to adopt resolutions
condemning yesterday’s attack.

There was business as usual, but the security personnel were on their toes thoroughly frisking journalists and parliament staff alike to ensure that there was no further repeat of an incident like yesterday.

The security worked overtime through the night to ensure that there was not an overt sign of the disturbance that happened yesterday. The only signs in notice were the blood stained Ambassador car used as a pilot for the Vice President and the outer walls of Parliament which were marked with bullets.

The security forces closed the short stretch just before the Parliament House and made arrangements for parking for the staff outside the premises. The entire complex had also been
sanitised.

Though all “labelled” vehicles of MPs and journalists were being allowed into the complex, the cars were being stopped ahead of the iron gates where the security staff were checking identity cards. Sniffer dogs were used to check the premises.

Parliament building’s main gate, where a terrorist was blown up, was washed clean this morning but blood stains could be seen on red sandstone steps and roof of the entrance.

A bullet mark could be seen in the Rajya Sabha Chairman’s chamber at gate No.11 where terrorists and Chairman’s security personnel exchanged fire.

While security was tightened inside the Parliament gates, Army was seen outside the premises.

The role of the security personnel in foiling the terrorist attack came in for praise by one and all and parliamentarians.

After succeeding in killing the terrorists, the security forces had a tougher task ahead of them. They had to ensure that all explosives in the complex were defused and the area was completely
sanitised.

During the night-long vigil, the security forces defused nearly 30 kg of explosives in the Ambassador car used by the terrorists to drive into Parliament.

Parliament security said the explosives could have blown up nearly a fourth of the Parliament House building.

New Delhi, December 14
A joint team of Delhi Police Officials, National Security Guards (NSG) and forensic and explosive experts searched the sprawling premises throughout the night in order to ensure that the Parliament complex was free of any explosive material following yesterday’s shootout.

The complex was finally declared “clean” after an elaborate sanitisation process where sniffer dogs and modern technological equipment worked in tandem with human frisking and search operations to avoid any untoward incident before the Parliament reconvened on Friday morning.

The sanitisation process was complete at 9.30 a.m. today morning, barely one and half-hour before the Parliament reconvened at 11.00 a.m.

Sources said that security and law enforcement agencies pressed into service all resources at their disposal to complete the sanitisation process well on time.

New Delhi, December 14
Taking cognizance of news reports about a non-functional CT scanner in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital here, the Union Health Ministry today directed its secretary to issue a show-cause notice to the Medical Superintendent, asking why action should not be taken against him for such a lapse.

Taking serious view of reports that the super-specialty hospital treated victims of yesterday’s terrorist attacks without a functional CT scanner, Union Health Minister C.P. Thakur has given hospital authorities 24 hours to “either repair or replace” the existing CT scanner. They have also been directed to immediately purchase another CT scanner.

According to reports, the CT scanner in the hospital had not been working for sometime and patients were being referred to other hospitals.

Sources in the ministry said that the hospital had been asked to initiate the process of setting up the proposed trauma centre. The authorities have been directed to ensure that the trauma centre is made functional within 18 months.

Hospitals in Delhi had been asked in September to be prepared for any terrorist attack and casualties.

New Delhi, December 14
The CPM today charged the government with keeping the Opposition in the dark about the details of the terrorist attack on Parliament House yesterday.

Talking to mediapersons here today, leader of the CPM in the Lok Sabha, Mr Somnath Chatterjee, said: “Terrorism should be fought by the people and the government as a whole but this government has totally failed to take the country in confidence.” “No effort has been made to discuss anything with the Opposition parties. More than 24 hours have elapsed. We have not even been told the version of the government. They never consult the Opposition when such serious issues arise. They should have sent for the Opposition leaders yesterday evening. Why have they totally ignored us when Parliamentary democracy means plurality of opinion?” he asked.

Asked if the Opposition
thought that Union Home Minister L.K. Advani ought to step down on moral grounds, Mr Chatterjee said: “Whether we seek Advani’s resignation will depend on what statement comes.”

Accusing the Centre of trying to gain political mileage out of the incident, Mr Chatterjee said there was a determined and false propaganda that such incidents were taking place because the Opposition was objecting to the POTO Bill.

“What is the significance of this reference? The Opposition is trying to prevent it from becoming a law by an Act of Parliament. POTO is in existence as an Ordinance since October 24 and yesterday was the 50th day of its promulgation. How could it not stop this terrorist attack?” he asked.

Talking to TNS later, Mr Chatterjee said the government was using POTO as “an excuse to abuse the Opposition parties and explain away their total failure, incompetence and negligence. “POTO is not a talisman or weapon. Let them supply a copy of POTO to each Watch and Ward staff in Parliament House,” he said.

New Delhi, December 14
The Supreme Court today granted interim bail for six months on severe conditions to former Bihar Chief Ministers Laloo Prasad Yadav and Dr Jagannath Mishra in one of the fodder scam related cases, pending before a Ranchi special
court.

The court imposed conditions especially on the RJD chief asking him to desist from euphoria or demonstrations in celebration of his release. He was also asked not to make any comment on pending cases for publicity sake. However, hours after securing bail from the Supreme Court, Laloo Prasad Yadav, and Jagannath Mishra were today remanded in judicial custody for 14 days in another scam case by a designated CBI court here.
UNI, PTI